US Xpress Drivers BEWARE!
OK For all you US Xpress drivers out there. I'm sure this has happened to you at one time or another because it certainly isn't the first time it's happened to me! We were pre-assigned to pick up a load in Jamesburg, NJ going to Houston, TX on 8/22 @ 0100 EDT. USX sent the pre-assignment on 8/21 @ 1418 EDT. But as all USX drivers know, the pre-assignment only gives you a "heads up" bit of info. You don't get any directions or real pick up or delivery times until you receive the actual load plan.
We delivered our previous load on time in Cranbury, NJ on 8/21 @ 2257 EDT. Jamesburg was only 7 miles away but when we sent the empty at final message, they had not yet sent the load plan for the load picking up in Jamesburg. So, naturally, we had no idea how to get to the shipper to pick up the load. After sending several messages to dispatch requesting that they send the load plan for the Jamesburg load, we decided to get some shut eye and "wait for the beep" on the satellite.
Dispatch finally sends the load plan on 8/22 @ 0343 EDT. Almost THREE HOURS AFTER if was scheduled to be picked up! Now how in the world are we supposed to pick it up on time? Then once we get to the shipper, we can't get into the gate until 8/22 @ 0600 EDT. So once again, we are playing the "hurry up and wait" game. We finally got loaded and headed out of the shipper at 0937 EDT.
The scheduled delivery time to Houston, TX was 8/23/07 @ 1400 CDT. Now you do the math. 1546 miles @ 52 mph transit = 29.73 hrs to get there. WITHOUT STOPPING FOR FUEL OR TO TAKE A SH*!! Which would have put us in Houston at about 8/23 @ 1430 - 1500 CDT. Dispatch refused to change the delivery time and they are now threatening us with a service failure. I ask each and every one of you drivers out there. HOW IN THE HELL COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE CONSIDERED A SERVICE FAILURE?
Now this is what I think it all boils down to. USX tried to pull this stunt on us once before and when we went into Human Resources to clear it up. I pulled out my handy dandy little laptop where I have recorded every trip down to the minute on a spreadsheet that I made up when we started working here.
In my opinion, once they discovered that we were tracking their every move, they are now looking for a way to get rid of us. Does anyone out there have an opinion? I would certainly like to hear them and maybe even some advice on how you would handle this situation.
Pissed off in the big red truck
0 comments